Former BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla has criticised Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke after he named MK Stalin, Pinarayi Vijayan and Arvind Kejriwal among the best chief ministers in India. Poonawalla called the outfit a “bunch of fraudiyaas” and questioned Dipke’s choices, pointing to the electoral setbacks faced by the three leaders.
Poonawalla also cited issues associated with the administrations of Stalin, Vijayan and Kejriwal to support his criticism. He referred to Tamil Nadu’s public debt under Stalin, COVID-19 deaths in Kerala during Vijayan’s tenure and the expansion of liquor outlets during Kejriwal’s tenure in Delhi.
The comments came after Dipke, speaking at a television event, was asked to name the best chief minister in the country. Dipke said several leaders had performed well in different areas and specifically mentioned Stalin for his work on Tamil Nadu’s economy, Vijayan for Kerala’s healthcare sector and Kejriwal for his focus on schools and education in Delhi.
The political landscape surrounding the three leaders has changed significantly. In Tamil Nadu, Stalin and the DMK faced an electoral setback in the assembly election, with the party losing power to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by C. Joseph Vijay, according to the information cited. Stalin also reportedly lost his own constituency.
Delhi also witnessed a change in government. The BJP returned to power in the national capital after 27 years following the assembly election, with Rekha Gupta becoming chief minister. The result ended the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Kejriwal.
The exchange has also highlighted how political assessments can differ depending on the criteria used. While electoral results provide one measure of public support, supporters of the three leaders may point to their governments' work in areas such as the economy, healthcare and education.
